. hangry pants .

I’m polite, I smile at strangers, I don’t mind lending a helping hand, and I do my best to treat everyone with the respect they deserve. That is… until I get hungry, because then it’s a whoooooole other story…

… kind of like that but with less testosterone. The point is that when I get hungry, I get plain mean. Irritable. Snappy. Rude. Impatient. I get what I like to call “Hangry,” and God help you if you come between me and my next meal.

Okay, so that might be a slight exaggeration, but you get the idea. Hunger goes up, mood goes way down.

And to make things even more pleasant, oftentimes anxiety will decide that it wants in on the fun as well. I’ve mentioned before how a drop in blood sugar can leave me feeling like I’m having a panic attack, so when you throw that into the already messy equation, I just become one big headcase.

It’s kind of frustrating. The way my body reacts to being hungry, you’d think that I was still starving myself. Now before anyone goes jumping on me for not eating enough, I should probably say that this sort of thing doesn’t happen very often, as I’ve gotten pretty good at preventing it. What’s annoying is that it still has the potential to happen, and it doesn’t take a whole lot – one missed snack, one delayed meal, and that becomes enough to send me over the edge. Apparently, this isn’t exactly normal…

Most people I know can go a pretty decent amount without eating, and almost no one I’ve come across experiences the same sort of homicidal tendencies when their stomach starts to grumble. Me, on the other hand? 2-3 tops and I start feeling shaky. I know these are all lingering effects of the years I spent starving myself, but come onnnnnn… How long am I going to keep having to pay for past mistakes? Granted, things are definitely on the mend, but I can’t wait for the day where I don’t have to be hyper vigilant about my hunger levels and how often I eat. Until then, I guess I’ll just have to go on keeping an emergency stash of food with me at all times…

… which is something that I guess I can live with 😉 And thus concludes day 2 of NHBPM… Writing about the weirdest thing about your health. Woop! Happy Friday!

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When I get too hungry, I _________.
Do you have any weird health related issues that you have to deal with?

Reader Interactions

Comments

oh gosh I am the same way. I was actually told by my nutrionist that because I spent some years in that starvation mode my body is still learning to trust me. I just react so intensely to hunger and fullness because of it. it is tough I would still hang out with you though if you were hungry, we could be hangry together.

Soooo I liked you on Facebook,and of course you know how much of an impact you have made on my life. I’m in complete agreeable, after recovering from anorexia I can’t stand being hungry. Im sooooo scary when this happens, I am not someone you want to be close to when that happens lol. I usually eat every 3 hours on weekdays, but on Sundays I am off the charts. Before, I would ignore my body’s signals and starve, but now I make sure I fuel myself. By the way Amanda all your Facebook pics are beautiful, you glow:)

Oh my, I feel just like that. While I’m no longer intentionally keeping myself from food for hours there are times when it happens. A class in university being longer than expected, a delayed train making me come home later and stuck without food somewhere in the middle of nowhere. You don’t want to be around me then. I’m usually still trying to stay calm and be polite towards others but once a certain “pain” barrier is hit I can’t help myself anymore. Snappy comments galore at everybody getting in between me and my next meal and the unability to focus. I wish there was a way to find out how to finally end this, how to let my body know I’ll never go back to letting it be without food,

I think all you can do is be consistent with nourishing your body properly and eventually it’ll get better. I know that it’s definitely gotten less severe for me over time, so maybe one day it’ll go away all together

Girl .. seriously, it’s like you’re in my brain. I get EXACTLY like this. And it’s if I don’t eat every 2-3 hours as well. Or if I don’t start at least making breakfast or getting a snack within 10min of waking up. I’m not sure what it is — maybe it’s that we’re not as used to hunger cues? Maybe it’s because our cells have the memory of what it’s like to be starving and scream to prevent it? Maybe it’s because while our minds are doing better, our bodies are still not as recovered as we would think and get depleted sooner than others? Not sure. What I do know is that I don’t understand how I used to go SO long without eating .. that’s a lie, actually. We numbed out and didn’t feel a thing. Ever. Hunger and anger included.
Hm. When I think about it that way, I’d rather be Hangry than numb. But I’d rather be happy than hangry. Conclusion: “Eat all the snacks!!”. 😀

Eat all the snacks, but don’t forget to get more! Food – never leave home without it 😉 And I seriously think it has something to do with our bodies just remembering the starvation and not being able to fully trust us… so they freaks out at the earliest hint of hunger. Buggers. But it does get better, so here’s hoping it goes away completely 😀

I get the same effects when I’m hungry. And whoever is with me at the time usually wishes they weren’t because I start whining saying “I’m SO HUNGRYYYYYYYYYY”. And they’ll say, “YES, Katy, you’ve said that a million times!” That will go on until I’ve eaten something.

I think the extreme hunger reaction is in part due to our experiences with EDs and having overcome at least the idea that less food will somehow make us better/happier. So we’re eating more: good thing! But perhaps there is still a bit more to it all… you mention that you experience anxiety over being a bottomless pit sometimes, and well, I can’t help but wonder if it’s because it disturbs your “normal” routine/balance. I mean, I don’t really know anyone who thinks much about eating more UNLESS they went through an ED. And with an ED, eating more food was the anti-Christ, right? The thing we avoided most? Well, you may have a healthier state of mind now and not deny yourself food when you’re hungry, but the fact that anxiety and more thought than usual persists over situations like having to eat more to satisfy your hunger signals to me that there are still little kinks that maybe cannot be resolved because of the relatively recent experience of an ED.

Don’t you find that when you reach for extra food in times like this it may be the carefully portioned out 100 calorie PopChips, 100 calorie fruit bar, etc.? I know we’ve had a similar conversation about me commenting on your food choices and whatnot, but I am *still* the skeptic 😉 Doesn’t mean I don’t think you’re doing 1,000,000x better than the other times you had a blog! 😀

Oh there are definitely still kinks to work on, but I don’t think that they can’t be resolved, just that they require more time. They’re already a tonne better than they used to be, so I’m hopeful As for the foods I reach for, when I’m out they’re usually packaged/portioned pretty much solely because that makes them more convenient and easier to tote around. When I’m at home I’ll whip up whatever it is that I happen to be craving at the time – sandwich, yogurt mess, bowl of cereal… I know you still don’t want to believe it, but there are reasons other than an ED that cause people to make various food choices 😉

I am the same way! I start feeling those hunger pangs about 2hours after I eat…I can usually make it about 3hrs between meals, but after that, look OUT! The hangry girl comes out if I can’t get some quality food in me.
I am fairly new to following your blog and I love every bit of it! I look forward to reading it every evening and drooling over your meals….especially those yogurt messes! They have become a new favorite for my morning meals. I look forward to tomorrow’s blog entry….and for now it’s off to get a snack before bed

Well see, I have this weird thing. Although my hunger signals are waaaay off- thanks to the ED and I really don’t experience ravenous hunger anymore, I am still very particular about being able to eat at certain times. More specifically, I get downright bitchy if someone or something comes between me and the one meal I refuse to go without every.single.day. (My peanut or almond butter/sliced banana on toast with some other kind of fruit on the side.) Sadly, it’s the time of day I look forward to the most- isn’t that crazy? But I really think it’s because it’s gotten to the point where ED’s made it so that I deny myself SO much that I feel like this meal is one of the few things I can still enjoy when it comes to eating. Which is exactly why I’m trying so hard to get better. Life shouldn’t be that way. I actually miss getting hungry and being able to eat an extremely delicious meal without giving a second thought to the calories but instead to how I’ve nourished my body and pleased my taste buds.

It’s not crazy – I was exactly the same way in the depths of my ED. I think it’s partly because our bodies get so starved for food that our minds begin to idolize it in hopes that we’ll give in and begin eating more. You’re absolutely right, though – life shouldn’t be that way at all… so don’t be afraid to enjoy a couple more AB/banana sandwiches a day, especially if you love them so much 😀 (and they are freakishly amazing)

I’ve been offering from this since I dipped my feet into my first ED at 8. I think I was in a constant hangry state for 2 years. All I know is that I because the schools resident bitch.
I also suffer from anxiety attacks, and the two together is a fatal combination. Once I was convinced it must be diabetes (hypochondria at it’s best), and got tested, but nothing came up.
It startled me how my mum can go from 12-7 without food. I think I’d probably die. I find it really tough at work, as we aren’t allowed to eat when we are working (busy cafe), and my blood sugar levels get so low and it’s horrible.
I try to manage it by having a lot of protein, which seems to help.

hahaha oh gosh me too! I have to say the intensity of my hangriness has subsided in the past year or so, and my appetite isn’t really super regular – like, most days I do get hungry 2-3 hours after eating, but sometimes i’m just NEVER hungry and some days I’m hungry ten minutes after eating and I just suffer like that all day haha. But generally, if I have to go 4 hours without eating – if my appetite is being normal – then I start to get a wee bit cranky and snappy and impatient with people. It’s okay! Just feed yourself and know that it’s normal and that as the months go by, it will get less and less intense

I’ve always found it weird that in my ED obviously hunger isn’t much of an issue…but now I can’t stand even a few minutes of being hungry. I need to keep a snack of some sort with me at all times in case of a hunger emergency.

I was never hungry when I was in the depths of my ED either, which is why it confused me to no end when I started getting hungrier in recovery. It was like… I’m eating more, so why am I even hungrier than when I was eating less? Apparently it’s a good thing… means the old metabolism is working 😉

This totally resonates…low blood sugar= I feel like I’m gonna have a panic attack. So glad I’m not the only one! Wish neither of us had to experience this, however… It’s so annoying to feel SO hungry all the time, but it guess it’s the price we pay for years of extreme restriction. I hope it will end soon too though…it’s no fun to constantly have to worry about being so hungry all the time, always needing snacks. It’s 11:08pm and I just had a granola bar. The old me would have gone to bed hungry, would not have slept well and woke up feeling crappy. The new Lauren eats when she’s hungry- whether that’s 6am or 11pm- no time is off limits. When my body speaks, I obey it’s commands 😛

Woop! It’s great to hear that the new Lauren is listening to her hunger 😀 If you keep doing that, these kind of symptoms definitely begin to fade away and you won’t have to worry about hunger/eating so much anymore.

I am the same way! Sometimes I don’t notice the hunger because I don’t experience the usual hunger pangs but I do get shaky and sometimes I get a random headache–all signs that I need to eat stat! It always shocks me when some people can go several hours without eating and seem fine when I need to eat on a more regular schedule. I guess our bodies are all different though and if we need food, we need it!

haha…i was actually sorta venting about this not very long ago. i have a slight twist and call myself haMgry but same thing. and i’m like u, it seems like lots of people can go along totally fine for hours without getting hungry or thinking that they’re a black hole stomach..it can get annoying because i also feel like other people can eat a certain amount and feel full, but me, if i were to eat that same amount would still be hamgry like heck.

I experience that “hungry” feeling when I go too long without eating as well. Not so great when you are sitting in lecture so I always stash some bars or dark chocolate in my bag. Usually does the trick.

I am the same. I turn into a bitch when I am hungry. When my BF is near and realizes that I am hungry, he RUNS to get food or me as he want to be safe anyway….I lived in the Philippines for project work in a very poor place without power or fluent water. Food was there, but rare. So I learnt to be hungry not because of an ED or being on a diet, but because literally there WAS NO food.

Girl, you are on the right track. Your effort will pay off that’s for sure. It just takes time and patience (I m waiting too:-)) – until then – EAT!!

Hi Amanda. I recently found your blog and felt compelled to comment on this post. I am the same way when I get hungry! In fact, my boyfriend and I both have the Hulk problem and we end up getting snippy with each other. NOT good. I always have a reserve of snacks with me just in case one of us is starving. I am glad to hear I’m not the only one!

Girl you are not alone whatsoever. I can’t go longer than 3 hours without a meal. Last night, I started crying whenever the husband wasn’t ready for dinner yet. I know pitaful right? haha. ((it may or may not of been because I never did get in a nap & was ridiculously tired)

I hate being hungry but I’ve gotten a lot better at dealing with it lately. Like last night I went out for dinner with a friend and didn’t get to eat until 8 pm when my last snack was at 3 pm! I was starving and it sucked, but I survived haha. Usually I try to avoid that feeling by eating every couple hours though!

Hi Amanda,
I definitely become whiney and so unpleasant when I’m really hungry!! I also get headaches if I go too long…I worked in bars for many years, so sometimes we’d go like 7-8 hrs, running around, no chance to eat. Brutal.. that’s when the actual hunger passes and headaches start! Remedied by 2am dinners/wine
I think, actually, I know this is quite common, as in I don’t think anybody doesn’t feel this way if they go too long without food! I think ‘too long’ just depends on the person. I would suggest that anxiety around hunger is related to recovery, but I think ‘hangry-ness’ is just human nature, or rather, the human body!

oh goodness I am SO not a good person to be around when Im hungry!! I totally start to shut down. I get really quiet. And then when someone talks to me, I get snappy. I really try to avoid being hungry, because it just does NOT end well for everyone.

I like to think being hungry doesn’t effect me. LIES! I am awful when I am hungry, I am mean, irritable, and basically I have no filter. Whatever I am thinking comes right out with no thought to how it sounds and how it will effect other people. But I am not as good as you. I never remember to pack food and snacks because I never snack. I know I need to learn to have something on hand, but that is one thing I can’t seem to get into my head!

I can *completely* relate! When my blood sugar drops–and it only takes two hours without food for that to happen–I get lightheaded and extremely irritable. Fortunately, I rarely find myself in situations where I’m unable to remedy the problem by munching on a snack (I keep a stash in my bag, too), but it DOES happen from time to time. Occasionally it’s self-inflicted, but only because I’m trying my best to wait for a meal with others. Last night was a perfect example: my mom’s flight was delayed, which meant that the dinner we’d planned on eating together was *several* hours delayed as well. In an attempt to curb my hunger until she arrived, I had a small snack; however it did nothing but increase the grumbling in my stomach. By the time she got to the house, I was cranky cranky! My body was not happy that I was eating two hours later than usual! However, it took just a few bites of food before I transformed into a happy person again. It’s amazing what effect food has on our moods, isn’t it?!

I think you’re right. I was briefly anorexic in high school (now 37 and long ago recovered) and I still have a very strong response when I get too hungry. It’s like my body remembers what that was like and sends an even more urgent message than with someone who had not experienced that.

No major health related issues for me, but I too get hangry..BIG TIME! I don’t necessarily get shaky, but I always have to bring food with me wherever I go. Even when I think I won’t need it, I always eat everything I bring. It’s not the worst thing though, I kind of enjoy NEEDING to eat every few hours and having my body thrive because of it!!

I can also relate to this. I get cranky and short tempered when I’m hungry. I’ve learned to pack a meal or some snacks with me whenever I’ll be out of the house for an extended time. I usually bring bananas, oranges, hard boiled eggs, cheese, beef jerky, bread or crackers. If I forget or can’t manage then I just stop at a cafe or supermarket and get something. And my husband takes it seriously when I say, “I must stop and eat NOW.”. It’s not the worst problem to have. It’s a million times better than all the side effects of actually starving yourself.

I am just the same, I can’t even think straight when I get hungry and at times I’ve even found that my blood sugar does funny things and I start feeling sick and faint – not good! I do need to get better at remembering to carry snacks!

hmmmm! Amanda, I wonder if it has anything to do with your blood sugar levels, or anything like anemia? I myself don’t have anemia, but people alllllways ask me if I’m diagnosed with it because ever since I was a kid, if I get hungry I start to get shaky, lightheaded, chilly, and sweaty all at the same time. Not sure why! But if this is how you feel, perhaps there’s more to it than you think! Hopefully not, and hopefully it’s nothing bad. But don’t blame yourself for feeling that way when you’re hungry because I’m sure it’s not ALL from your past! 😀 Have a wonderful day~

Ha ha. Same thing happens with me. Well, at first I get really antsy, a little anxious and can jump down people’s throats. I always apologize after because I feel super bad about being “rude”. At a certain point though, I just get super quiet, shaky, and feel panicked, and don’t even have the energy to be mean, since my blood sugar will crash so low. Which is definitely not good. I wonder if this is just an after effect from the eating disorder?

Oh my goodness! I’m on the same page as you – my family calls it one if the Matthews downfalls: hunger = grumpy butts. We get snappy, our joy is drained from our hearts … We need food FAST! Thankfully, though, we all know of this defect of ours so we calmly leave the hungry person alone and find them a sandwich without any hurt feelings.

Yup the “whistle while you WAIT” is kind of key here…so cheers to chocolate stashes and the like right? Actually….keep on doing that even when the crashes are gone lol.
PS- I am doing this NHBPM too thanks too you…writing with prompts is interesting huh?

I am the exact same way!! It’ gotten so bothersome that I even took notice of it recently. I haven’t really met anyone else who experiences what I do (well now you and a bunch of other bloggers!), and when I mentioned it to a few people they just brushed it off as nothing to worry about. I dunno though – I totally freak out if I go 2-3 hours (even 1 hour) past my hunger cue and get irritable, bitchy, hangry, and even emotional. And yes I hoard food everywhere to try and avoid this! Maybe it is a physical thing and something is off with our bodies?

I am the SAME way! I honestly don’t understand how the people I work with can go like six, seven, EIGHT hours sometimes without eating! Four hours TOPS for me…and that is the absolute max…which usually works out to be 3 larger meals and 2-3 snacks throughout the day. And I hate it when people comment and say stuff like, “How do you stay so skinny? You eat like ALL the time!” Like it’s a bad thing?! Wth? I wanna be like, “Well lucky for you I eat as often as I do so my mood doesn’t tank and I smack you in the face for saying that!” Oooookay, rant OFF! 😉

Oh wow, I am an ANGRY hungry person. My poor husband. 😉 It’s so complicated when your body is learning to trust you again after restriction. I’ve found that as time goes by it’s not as urgent or intense – I have better warning signs, or maybe I’m just better at paying attention to them. 😉 Some of us just need food more often, though, so I think it’s cool to go with it!